﻿Vayikra: Animal Sacrifices in the Third Temple?

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This week:
Bechukotai

[Rav Kook’s views on the Temple service are sometimes misconstrued.
A superficial reading of a passage in Olat Re’iyah (vol. I, p. 292) indicates that
only grain offerings will be offered in the reinstated Temple
service. To properly understand Rav Kook’s approach, it is
necessary to read a related essay from Otzarot HaRe’iyah.]

What will the rebuilt Temple be like? Will we really offer animal
sacrifices once again?

Protecting Animals

Some people object to the idea of sacrifices out of concern for the
welfare of animals. However, this objection contains a measure of
hypocrisy. Why should compassion for animals only be expressed with
regard to humanity’s spiritual needs? If our opposition to animal
slaughter is based not on weakness of character, but on recognition
of the issue’s fundamental morality, then our first step should be
to outlaw the killing of animals for food, clothing, and other
material benefits.

In the world’s present state, the human race is weak, both
physically and morally. The hour to protect animal life has not yet
arrived. We still need to slaughter animals for our physical needs,
and human morality requires that we maintain clear boundaries to
distinguish between the relative value of human and animal life.

At this point in time, to advocate the protection of animals in our
service of God is disingenuous. Is it moral to permit cruelty
towards animals for our physical needs, yet forbid their use for
our spiritual service, in sincere recognition and gratitude for
God’s kindness? If our dedication and love for God can be expressed
- at its highest level — with our willingness to surrender our own
lives and die al kiddush Hashem, sanctifying God’s name, then
certainly we should be willing to forgo the life of animals for
this sublime goal.

The Return of Prophecy

Currently, however, we are not ready for an immediate restoration
of the sacrificial service. Only with the return of prophecy will
it be possible to restore the Temple order. In a letter penned in
1919, Rav Kook explained:

“With regard to sacrifices, it is more correct to believe that all
aspects will be restored to their place. ... We should not be
overly troubled by the views of European culture. In the future,
God’s word to His people will elevate all the foundations of
culture to a level above that attainable by human reason.

“It is inappropriate to think that sacrifices only reflect the
primitive idea of a worship of flesh. This service possesses a holy
inner nature that cannot be revealed in its beauty without the
illumination of God’s light to His people [the return of prophecy]
and a renewal of holiness
to Israel. And this will be recognized by all peoples. But I
agree with you that we should not approach the practical
aspects of sacrifices before the advent of revealed divine
inspiration in Israel.” (Igrot HaRe’iyah vol. IV p. 24)

The Future World

In the writings of the Kabbalists, we find a remarkable description
of how the universe will look in the future, a world vastly
changed from our current reality. All aspects of the universe will
be elevated. Even the animals in that future era will be different;
they will advance to the level of people nowadays (Sha’ar Hamitzvot
of the Ari z"l). Obviously, no sacrifice could be offered from such
humanlike animals. At that time, there will no longer be strife and
conflict between the species. Human beings will no longer need to
take the lives of animals for their physical, moral, and spiritual
needs.

It is about this distant time that the Midrash makes the startling
prediction, “All sacrifices will be annulled in the future”
(Tanchuma Emor 19, Vayikra Rabbah 9:7). The prophet Malachi
similarly foretold of a lofty world in which the Temple service
will only consist of grain offerings, in place of the animal
sacrifices of old:

“Then the grain-offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be
pleasing to God as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.”
(Malachi 3:4)

Hints to the Future

Even in the current reality, we may feel uncomfortable about
killing animals. This does not mean that the time for full animal
rights has already arrived. Rather, these feelings come from a
hidden anticipation of the future that is already ingrained in our
souls, like many other spiritual aspirations.

Hints of these future changes may be found in the text of the
Torah itself. Thus, it says that offerings are slaughtered on the
northern side of the altar. Why this side? The north traditionally
represents that which is incomplete and lacking, as it is written,
“Out of the north, the evil shall break forth” (Jeremiah 1:14).
In other words, the need to slaughter animals is a temporary concession
to life in an incomplete world.

Furthermore, the Torah stipulates that sacrifices must be
slaughtered 'lirtzonchem' — ‘willingly’ (Lev. 19:5). The Temple
service must correspond to our needs and wants. As the Talmud in Erchin 21a
explains, one must be able to say, “I want to bring this offering.”
When the slaughter of animals is no longer generally acceptable
to society, this condition will not be fulfilled.

Finally, the Torah describes a person offering an animal sacrifice
as adam (Lev. 1:2). This word indicates our current state of
moral decline, a result of the unresolved sin of Adam, the first
man. An individual offering a grain offering, on the other hand, is
called nefesh, or soul (Lev. 2:1). The word nefesh implies a
deeper, more essential level of humanity, independent of any
temporary failings.